The Aetna Foundation Awards More Than $3 Million in Grants to Support Healthy Eating and Exercise in Local Communities

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"Poor nutrition and low activity levels can be especially challenging in underserved communities, but local programs like those the Aetna Foundation supports can have a big impact on community health"

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Aetna Foundation today announced that they have awarded more than $3
million in community grants to 75 nonprofit organizations in 22 states
as part of GoLocal: Cultivating Healthy Communities, a program that
helps healthy food choices and active living take root in underserved
communities.

One component of GoLocal is the Local Roots grant program, which
included a specific focus on funding the creation and expansion of
community gardens, urban farms and farmers markets. These programs will
increase access to fresh foods, create opportunities for nutrition
education and promote exercise in local neighborhoods.

This funding comes at a critical time when there is a great need to make
healthy foods more available, accessible and affordable at the local
level. An estimated 14 percent of American households were food insecure
at some time during 2014, meaning they lacked access to enough food for
an active, healthy life for all household members, according to the
USDA. In addition, approximately 23 million Americans live in low-income
urban and rural neighborhoods more than one mile away from the nearest
grocery store, according to Let’s Move.

“Poor nutrition and low activity levels can be especially challenging in
underserved communities, but local programs like those the Aetna
Foundation supports can have a big impact on community health,” said
Garth Graham, M.D., MPH, president of the Aetna Foundation. “At the
Aetna Foundation, we know that place matters. Where you live can have a
profound impact on your health. We’re excited to support programs that
reach people where they are with specific ways to incorporate healthy
eating and exercise – reaching people in their neighborhoods leads to
sustainable change that will be key to improving health outcomes
nationwide.”

Another component of GoLocal is the Healthy Eating and Active Living
(HEAL) program, which is designed to create momentum behind healthier
lifestyles by focusing on better nutrition and greater physical activity
in underserved communities. In addition to making healthy foods
available, accessible and affordable, these programs will allow people
of all ages to come together through neighborhood solutions.

Since 2014, the Aetna Foundation’s GoLocal: Cultivating Healthy
Communities grant program has awarded more than $6.4 million in grants
and sponsorships. Through programs like Local Roots and HEAL, the Aetna
Foundation is building a healthier world, community by community.

Empowering Girls through Movement: Delivering Girls on the Run, A
Physical-Activity Based Positive Youth Development Program, in NYC

New York

The Doe Fund

Urban Agriculture Program

New York

Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation

Community Gymnastics Programs

New York

Sow Much Good Inc

SMG Market & Program Expansion

North Carolina

Young Men's Christian Association of Northwest North Carolina

Planting the Seeds for a Strong Community

North Carolina

Local Matters

Seeding the Future: Building Food Security through Community Gardens
and Healthful Food Education

Ohio

The Center for Closing the Health Gap in Greater Cincinnati

Do Right! Kids Mt. Auburn & Walnut Hills

Ohio

The Children's Home of Cincinnati, Ohio

Nutrition Matters Initiative

Ohio

The Refugee Response

Refugee Empowerment Agricultural Program (REAP)

Ohio

A Little Taste Of Everything Inc

Mill Creek Farm

Pennsylvania

Esperanza Health Center

Nuclear Powered Fitness and Nutrition

Pennsylvania

Federation of Neighborhood Centers

Teens 4 Good Healthy Community Initiative

Pennsylvania

Greensgrow Philadelphia Project

Greensgrow Community Garden Center

Pennsylvania

Nationalities Service Center

Growing Home: Refugee Community Gardens

Pennsylvania

The Food Trust

Expanding HYPE Beyond School Walls: Empowering Youth Leaders to
Improve School and Community Health

Pennsylvania

Urban Tree Connection

Neighborhood Foods

Pennsylvania

Trevecca Nazarene University

Food Desert to Food Oasis: University and Youth Partnership for
Growing and Marketing Fresh Food

Tennessee

Baylor Health Care System Foundation

Farm Stand Expansion Project with a Family Demonstration Garden
Project

Texas

Foundation for Wellness, Texas

FitWorth Fuel Program

Texas

People's Community Clinic

Happy Kitchen/Cocina Alegre

Texas

San Antonio Sports

i play! afterschool program

Texas

Sustainable Food Center

Healthy Families

Texas

The Concilio

Comprando Rico y Sano (Buying and Shopping Healthy)

Texas

Greater Richmond Fit4Kids, Inc

Fit4Kids: Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds

Virginia

United Methodist Urban Ministries Of Richmond Inc

Urban Farmacy and Kitchen Prescription

Virginia

Green Plate Special

Bringing the Garden to the Table for central and south Seattle's Low
Income Youth, Their Community, and Teachers

Washington

Solid Ground

Food Access and Community Education

Washington

The Market Foundation

Pike Place Market Cooking Classes

Washington

About the Aetna FoundationThe Aetna Foundation is the
independent charitable and philanthropic arm of Aetna (NYSE: AET). Since
1980, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have contributed more than $465
million in grants and sponsorships. As a national health foundation,
we promote wellness, health, and access to high-quality health care for
everyone. This work is enhanced by the time and commitment of Aetna
employees, who have volunteered 3.8 million hours since 2003. For more
information, visit www.aetnafoundation.org.